Multipurpose cushion



Nov. 14, 1961 A. M. COULTER 3,008,153

MULTIPURPOSE CUSHION Filed March 3, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Anne M. Goa/fer INVENTOR.

BY Mm 38 FW Nov. 14, 1961 A. M. COULTER MULTIPURPOSE cusmon 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1959 Fig. 6

Anne M. Gnu/fer R .w kw, w w w United States Patent Ofiice 3,008,153 Patented Nov. 14, 1961 3,008,153 MULTIPURPOSE CUSHION Anne M. Coulter, 2315 E. 12th Ave., Apt. 202, Denver 6, Colo., assignor of thirty percent to Claude D. Zehrung, Sr., thirty percent to Maurice J. Zehrung, and fifteen percent to Margaret J. Pfeiffer Filed Mar. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 796,782 2 Claims. (Cl. 337) The present invention generally relates to a cushioning device and more particularly to such a device having a hollow compartment which is fluid tight and which may be inflated with air or filled with hot or cold liquids or ice whereby the device may be used as a cushioning device or as a hot or cold water bottle with the particular shape of the device generally simulating a crescent shaped moon so that the same may be employed for many different uses in a more eflicient manner due to the particular shape thereof.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a cushioning device which may be inflated with air or provided with cold water, ice, hot water or the like IfJord cushioning or otherwise treating certain areas of the Another object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose cushion which is adapted for attachment to a bed pan whereby the patient employing the bed pan will be more comfortably supported thereon, there being means for holding the cushion on the bed pan together with means for inflating the same and means for admitting hot water, cold water, ice or the like into the interior of the compartment between the upper and lower panels from which the cushion is formed.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose cushion which is simple in construction, easy to use, adapted for many utilities and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the cushioning device of the present invention mounted on a bed pan with onehalf of the cushioning device being broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the device of FIG- URE 1 illustrating the construction of the cushioning device and the association thereof with the bed pan;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the cushioning device;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of the cushioning device;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the wire ring assembly used in the cushioning device for mounting the same on the front flange of the bed pan; and

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the wire rod reinforcement and retaining means.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the cushioning device of the present invention which is illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 as being attached to a conventional bed pan generally designated by the numeral 12 which includes a peripheral side wall 14 and an inwardly extending flange 16 which is slightly inwardly and downwardly sloped and is usually provided with a terminal rolled edge 18 all of which represents conventional bed pan construction which forms no part of the present invention except in its association with the cushioning device of the present invention in one use of the cushioning device. The

cushioning device may be employed in many other en vironments as described hereinafter.

As illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3, the over-all plan shape of the cushioning device is generally crescent shaped or C-shaped and includes an upper panel 20 having a smooth and uninterrupted surface, said upper panel being constructed of pure gum. rubber capable of producing a resilient soft cushion. Connected to the upper panel 20 in fluid tight relation is a lower or bottom panel generally designated by the numeral 22 which includes a layer of rubber 24 and a layer of friction muslin 26 which are bonded to each other.

Forming an extension on the inner edge of the cushion is a flap 28 constructed similar to the bottom panel 22 and lying against the undersurface of the bottom panel 22 and adapted to underlie the flange 16 for mounting the cushioning device on the bed pan.

Embedded in the bottom panel 22 in spaced relation to the inner edge thereof is a generally U-shaped wire member 30 and embedded in the flap 28 adjacent the free edge thereof is a wire member 32 which is also of arcuate configuration. The central portions of the wire members are normally disposed closer to each other than the end portions thereof and the Wire member 32 is disposed concentrically and further away from the inner edge of the panel than the wire member 30. Interconnecting the free ends of the wire members 30 and 32 is a pair of substantially Ushaped connectors 34 having a long leg connected to the wire member 32 and a shorter leg connected to the wire member 30 and being connected by a U-shaped bight portion which opens towards the wire member 3 2. The wire member is bent in such a manner as to exert a closing action on the flap 28 thus holding the flap against the undersurface of the lower panel 22 or against the undersurface of the flange 16.

A hand operated air bulb 38 is connected to a fitting 40 on the outer periphery of the cushion and a suitable flexible line 4-2 interconnects the air bulb 38 and the adapter 40 and an air check valve may be provided in the adapter 40 which may be released when it is desired to deflate the cushion. By using the air bulb 38 in the usual manner, the cushion may be inflated by pumping air into the space between the top panel 20 and the bottom panel 22.

The bottom panel 22 is formed or molded to receive a threaded adapter 44 for receiving a threaded closure cap 46 which is enlarged and which may be used for admitting and removing hot water, cold water, ice or the like whichever may be required. The adapter 44 and cup 46 are recessed so as not to interfere with the use of the cushion as a seat cushion, pan cushion or the like.

There are no crevices or seams on the upper side of the cushion thus expediting the maintenance of the cushion in a sanitary condition and the device has many uses where a conventional ice pack or water bottle failed due to their conventional shape. The present device may be used for applying heat or cold to any part of the body such as around the neck, under the armpit, encircling a leg or arm and even circling a wound without pressure to the afllicted area which is impossible with a conventional hot water bottle. In addition, the device will act effectively as a cushion for the shoulders, the hips or any other part of the body for spacing the same away from a surface of a bed or the like thereby providing a cushion having many purposes and utilities.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows: V

1. A cushion for use in conjunction with bed pans and similar receptacles having an inturned marginal rim at the top thereof, said cushion comprising a substantially C-shaped hollow and inflatable body having inner and outer marginal edges and upper and lower walls connected together at said inner and outer edges, a keeper flap of a single thickness provided at the underside of said body substantially coextensively with its length and secured to the body along its inner marginal edge, said flap having a free outer marginal edge and being sufficiently wide with respect to said body whereby an inturned rim of bedpans and similar receptacles may be received between and frictionally engaged by the flap and the lower surface of said body to retain the cushion in position thereon, and continuous reinforcing wire means comprising a first substantially C-shaped wire member embedded in the bottom wall of said body, a second substantially C-shaped wire member embedded in said flap,

and a pair of U-shaped wire member connecting the first and second wire members together at the ends thereof, said wire means being inherently resilient and urging said flap toward the lower wall of the body to assist in retaining the cushion in position.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said second wire member is embedded in the free outer marginal edge portion of said flap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 723,021 Power Mar. 17, 1903 1,603,001 Carter Oct. 12, 1926 1,924,204 Young Aug. 29, 1933 2,086,109 Albert July 6,1937 2,116,560 Chambers May 10, 1938 2,559,246 Fees July 3, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 769,792 Great Britain Mar. 13, 1957 

